Wire guard



J. MAINELLO ET AL WIRE GUARD May 20, 1930.

Filed June 14, 1927 Patented May 20, 1930 1,759,125

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JULIE MAINELLO AND JOSEPH P. BACCA, FTRINIDAD, COLORADO WIRE GUARD Application filed June 14, 1927. SerialNo. 198,858.

This invention relates to a guard or proin one wall thereof. For thepurpose of comtecting device for use in connection with pletely closingthese openings so as to preelcctric wires for the purpose of preventingvent the insertions of wires whereby current the theft of current. mightbe stolen, the guard constituting the WVhere service wires are extendedinto elecpresent invention has been devised. This trio meters itfrequently happens that the guard consists of a split ring or band 1havopenings in the meter boxes through which ing a relatively thick walland formed of the wires are extended are left exposed sufhard rubber orany other suitable material ficiently to permit the insertion of one orpreferably insulation. Ears 2 are extended re more wires whereby currentcan be withfrom the ring at'opposite sides of the radial drawn withoutactuation of the meter mechslit 3 provided therein and, in the structureanisms. I illustrated each of these cars is provided with It is anobject of the present invention to a transverse bushing 4 of brass orthe like. provide a simple form of clamp or protecting These bushingsare adapted to be engaged by device which can be applied readily to awire a screw 5 insertible thereinto. The opening and-held thereby snuglyagainst the wall of 6 extending through the ring or band is of a themeter box so as to completely close the diameter substantially equal tothe external opening in the box through which the wire is diameter ofthe wire to which the device is to extended and thus prevent theft ofcurrent be applied. Thus after the ring or band has in the mannerpointed out. been placed on a wire B- and positioned tight 79 Anotherobject is to provide a device of against the apertured wall of the metercasthis character which is simple and inexpening, the screw 5 extendingthrough the ears sive and can be applied readily to the wires of saidband can be tightened so as to bind the extending into a meter. devicetightly on the wire. Thereafter a seallVith the foregoing and otherobjects in ing wire 7 can be inserted through an aperview which willappear as the description ture 8 in the projecting threaded portion ofproceeds, the invention resides in the comthe screw so as to preventloosening of the bination and arrangement of parts and in band withoutbreaking the seal. This aperthe details of construction hereinafterdeture is preferably located at such a point that 30 scribed andclaimed, it being understood when the wire is seated therein the screwis 50 that changes in the precise embodiment of the practically heldfixed so that it cannot be roinvention herein disclosed may be madewithtated in either direction.

in the scope of what is claimed, without de- Obviously by placing one ofthese devices parting from the spirit of the invention. on each wire andpositioning the same where In the accoi'npanying drawings the preit fitssnugly against the apertured wall of $5 ferred form of the invention hasbeen shown. the meter casing, it becomes impossible to in- Tn saiddrawings, sort a wire and steal current without first Figure l is afront elevation of a meter breaking the seal and thereafter looseningshowing several of the guards applied to the and shifting the guard.

4 wires extending ito the meter. For the purpose of preventing the ringor Figure 2 is a top plan view of one of the band from being slipped outof position after devices. it has been clamped upon the wire, teeth orFigure 3 is a front elevation thereof. projections 9 can be extendedinwardly from Figure 4 is a side elevation. the band or, if preferred,corrugations can 45 Figure 5 is a section on line 55, Figure be used,these corrugations extending around 3, the clamping screw being shown inplan. the opening 6. Thus when the band or sleeve Referring to thefigures by characters of or ring is tightened these projecting partsreference A designates an electric meter of will bite into theinsulation of the wire and the ordinary type and B designates wires eventhough the parts should loosen slightly,

50 extending into the meter through openings it would not be possible toslip the band or ring out of position. To further safeguard the wire theinner or adjoining faces of the ears 2 are offset as shown at 10 so asto inter-fit and thus prevent the insertion of a wire between said faceswhen they are not brought tight together.

These devices can of course be made in different sizes so as to litwires of different diameters.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with an electric meter box and an insulated wireextending thereto, of a bushing embracing the wire and having normallyspaced portions providing a substantially radial slot, said bushingbeing of a thickness sufficient to close the space between the wire andthe wall of the opening in 'which it is seated, all parts of the bushingbeing located outside of the meter h x, and adjustable means engagingthe spaced por tions of the bushing for contracting the slot andclamping said bushing upon the insulated wire to hold it againstdisplacement relative to the wire and met-er box.

2. The combination with an electric meter box and an insulated wireextending thereinto, of a bushing embracing the wire and having normallyspaced portions providing a substantially radial slot, said bushingbeing of a thickness suficient to close the space between the wire andthe wall of the opening in which it is seated, all parts of the bushingbeing located outside of the meter box, projections extending inwardlyfrom the bushing, and shiftable with the bushing along the insulatedwire during the adjustment of the bushing to the wire and meter box, andadjustable means engaging the spaced portions of the bushing forcontracting the slot and forcing said projections into the insulation ofthe wire and clamping the bushing about the wire thereby to hold saidbushing against displacement relative to the wire and meter box.

3. The combination with an electric meter box and an insulated wireextending therc into, of a bushing embracing the wire and havingnormally spaced portions providing a substantially radial slot, saidbushing being of a thickness sufiicient to close the space between thewire and the wall of the opening in which it is seated, all parts of thebushing of an object through the slot between said portions into thespace between the bushing and the meter box and between the wire and themeter box.

4. The combination with an electric meter box and an insulated wireextending thereinto, of a bushing embracing the wire and having normallyspaced portions forming a slot therebetween, said bushing being of athickness sufficient to close the space between the wire and the wall ofthe opening in which it is seated, all par-ts of the bushing beinglocated outside of the meter box, projections extending inwardly fromthe bushing, and shiftable with the bushing along the insulated wireduring the adjustment of the bushing to the wire and meter box,adjustable means engaging the spaced portions of the bushing forcontracting the slot and forcing said projections into the insulation ofthe wire and clamping the bush ing about the wire thereby to hold saidbushing against displacement relative to the wire and meter box, andsealing means for preventing loosening of the bushing relative to thewire and meter boX without detection.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have heretoaffixed our signatures.

JULIE MAINELLO. JOSEPH P. BACCA.

